Tasha Delrae

Compromise

2012-02-13T06:16:00.002-08:00

What:

Vest- Made By Bri

Blouse- Thrifted

Skirt- Suzy Shier

Boots- Spring

After a few months it starts to get frustrating dressing for winter. I think the most frustrating thing about it is not being able to expose my legs. Not in the "I want to show off my legs" kinda way, just in the "I have no tights that look right with the shoes I want to wear" kinda way. Meaning that I did not want to be wearing purple tights, and grey boots. I wanted to go bare legged, and wear some cute purple moccasin style flats.

Winter, I am sick of having to compromise for you!

Inspired By: Printed Pants

2012-02-12T15:25:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago I talked about my obsession with printed blazers, and then ended up making one. This week I plan on doing the same with printed pants! I do already own a pair of polka dot polazzos....but I think I want something a bit crazier. If you follow me on twitter or instagram you would have already seen a preview of the printed pants I'm working on.

I really hope they turn out as good as I am imagining in my head. The only downfall is that even if they do, I have to wait for much warmer weather to wear them because they're being made out of a very lightweight satin. Of course I would have much rather make them out of something thicker, but I had to use fabric from my stash due to the fact that I live in the middle of nowhere :)

Top Row: 1.Alice + Olivia 2.Etro 3.Alice + Olivia 4.Malene Birger 5.Etro 6.Jane Norman 7.Robert Rodriguez 8.Emanuel Ungaro 9.FNUBBU

Bottom Row: 1.Oasis 2.Warehouse 3 Michael, Michael Kors 4.River Island 5.Versus 6.DKNY 7.Etro 8.Dolce & Gabanna 9.Mango

I want to know what you think of printed pants! Are they crazy? Would you wear them?

Shaped Like the 80's

2012-02-10T06:18:00.002-08:00

What:

Blazer- Thrifted

Sweater- Winners Similar

Jeans- Gap Similar

Boots- Dolce Vita

I thrifted this blazer over Christmas break and I instantly fell in love with the colour. I will admit the shape is a little more 80's than I usually like, but I'm allowed to change my mind on that right? Because I kind of think the shape is what makes this blazer so fun!

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Sequin Heart Sweater DIY

2012-02-09T06:00:00.007-08:00

The J.Crew Heart Me sweater (sold out, of course) that has been seen all over blogland has inspired me to do some DIYing. I thought sequins would help take the sweater to the next level! The great thing about this DIY project is that NO sewing is involved....and it honestly took me under 20minutes!

Pin It

Materials and Supplies

-Sweater

-Approximately 2.5yards of 1" wide sequin trim

-Hot glue gun and glue

-Scissors

Instructions

1. Lay out your trim in a heart shape on top of the front of your sweater.

2. Use your hot glue gun to attach the sequin trim to your sweater by only gluing down the outside edge. Be sure to keep the glue under the trim, but only along the outer edge (this is so that you can conceal the raw edges of the sequin pieces that fill the inside of the heart under the outer edge). When you get to the bottom point of the heart cut a slit through the trim from the inside edge, ending just before the outer edge. Overlap the edges of the trim, and glue down. Glue the trim all the way around the heart shape, and continue straight through over to the other side as shown in the second picture. Cut the trim when you reach the edge, and glue the end of the trim piece under the sequin heart boarder.

3. Cut strips of sequins to fit above and below the sequin line that's inside the heart (you can do this as you go). Hot glue each piece down side by side, making sure to glue the end of each piece under the original sequin heart outline. I worked from the line up, and then from the line down.

4. When you have all the whole heart filled in, glue gun down the inside edge of the original heart outline.

All done! Just in time for Valentines Day.

A Little Switch

2012-02-08T05:37:00.002-08:00

What:

Blazer- Thrifted Similar (Many colour choices)

Blouse- Thrifted Similar

Pants- Self Made Similar or Similar

Shoes- Dolce Vita

I told you that you would be seeing a lot more of these pants on my blog :)

I pretty much repeated the way I wore them last time...all I did was switch up my blazer, accessories, and shoes.

I'm quite loving the look of red and torquoise together...another inspiration from pinterest!

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Tie a Knot

2012-02-07T06:46:00.002-08:00

What:

Blouse- Thrifted

Sweater- Joe Fresh

Pants- Zara

Shoes- Thrifted

Glasses- c/o clearlycontacts.ca

I've noticed a few outfits on pinterest lately that mixed hot pink and beige(ish) neutrals together, I knew I had to try it.

I have to say it's a fun colour combo....I highly recommend trying it :)

On a side note....the top part of my outfit was looking pretty shapeless so I tried belting it, but it didn't look right, so I tied a knot instead. I wasn't expecting it to work so well because I thought knotting a sweater might be too bulky. I'm glad I was wrong!

Add Some Fun

2012-02-06T06:27:00.004-08:00

What:

Blouse- Joe Fresh

Sweater- Joe Fresh

Pants- Kohls

Boots- Dolce Vita

I love the sequined stripes on this sweater...they instantly make an outfit a lot more fun!

Birthday Wish List

2012-02-05T14:24:00.000-08:00

I'll be turing 26 on Feb.16...and wouldn't mind unwrapping any of these items on that day :)

(Steve Madden Shoes, ASOS Blouse, Silence & Noise Blazer, Amethyst Ring)

The older I get, the more impossible it becomes to make a birthday wish list....perhaps that's because I start to realize that I actually have everything I need....but don't let that stop you from buying me a present!! haha I also will be accepting cards stuffed with cash as an alternative gift...

You can see a few more things I'm obsessing with over here!

Wild Card Pairing

2012-02-02T06:10:00.002-08:00

What:

Blouse- Joe Fresh Similar

Sweater- TJ Maxx

Vest- Made by Bri Similar

Skirt- Self Made Similar or Similar

Boots- Dolce Vita (They're on major sale now!!)

I had the top half of this outfit on...and then destroyed my closet trying it with many different bottoms, only to be unsatisfied with the results. Finally I went for the wild card draw, and pulled on this yellow skirt. I was a little scared to look in the mirror because I had a feeling it was going to be crazy.

*It's crazy but I like it* (Sing to the tune of "I'm Sexy and I Know it")

I keep forgetting to ask you if you're ~~creeping~~ following me on Instagram yet? Not to peer pressure you into it or anything like that....but sometimes I post fun pictures...like the time Vyla destroyed my house with nail polish. Other times I post previews of projects I'm working on (Yes, I'm finished that one now...). Sometimes I show you my matching skills. And who can forget about the cute pictures of my stylish daughter?

If that was enough to convince you, please find me @NatashaJanzen on Instagram.

Layered

2012-02-01T06:32:00.004-08:00

What:

Dress- H&M

Blouse- Joe fresh

Belt- Zara

Boots- Winners

OK, I have to admit it is a bit funny that yesterday I said that you can expect to see many more good hair days on my blog, and then I post these pictures! haha

My excuse? I had just got back from swimming with my daughter. My hair was perfect to begin with, I was very careful about not getting it wet, then Vyla discovered the slide and insisted we went on it. That was the end of my good hair day. On the bright side I had a blast sliding into the water!

I've been wanting to try layering a blouse under this dress for awhile, so when I found this top on super sale last week I knew it would be perfect! The only downfall is the awkward bulk around the waist that I tried to belt in.

Good Hair Days

2012-01-31T06:28:00.002-08:00

I know this is a fashion blog...but every now and then it's good to talk about things that go hand in hand with fashion...one of those things would be hair!

I know this might sound a little silly, but it's the honest truth...quite often I choose my outfits based on my "hair day". On the days that my hair is looking a little rough I opt for a more casual outfit (or a hat..haha!)...when it's perfectly wavy I like to wear more romantic/less structured outfits, and on straight hair days I gravitate towards sleek or structured looks. I guess I know that how my hair looks can effect the overall appearance of an outfit...because the truth is, if I have crazy hair people are way too distracted by it to notice a great outfit! Which is why I was thrilled when the people from Misikko asked me to test out their best blow dryer (they also carry Chi Hair Straighteners)!

To be completely honest with you, before I received this blow dryer I only blow dried my hair about once every few months. The reasons being 1. Drying my hair took way too long. 2. Blow drying left my hair frizzy 3. I'm lazy :)

My normal hair routine was to wash my hair at night, sleep on it, and assess it in the morning to determine if I could work with my natural waves, or needed to straighten/curl it for my hair to look good. Most days required either straightening or curling, which of course takes time...and lazy girls don't like wasting time!

Now with the Hana Professional Hair Dryer I can blow dry my hair completely in under 7 minutes (which is insanely quick for how thick my hair is). My hair is never frizzy afterwards, and minimal touch ups with my straightener is required. I honestly love this thing! It has multiple heat settings, which is great because I was even able to quickly blow dry my daughters hair without having to worry about burning her scalp :)

The only downfall would be the price...but then again if it can save you half an hour a day, maybe it's actually saving you money?

So now you can expect to see a lot more good hair days on my blog!

Misikko provided me with the Hana Professional Hair Dryer in exchange for a review post. I promise I gave you my honest opinion!

Fun Colours

2012-01-30T06:19:00.002-08:00

What:

Blouse- Thrifted Similar

Cami- Self Made

Belt- Gift

Skirt- Dynamite

Boots- BCBG Similar

With all the fashion magazines showing me all sorts of fun bright spring/summer outfits I'm starting to get very antsy for all this snow to go away. In the meantime (because I know it's not going anywhere) I'll just have to figure out ways to wear all the fun colours in the cold!

My Weekend Project

2012-01-29T14:23:00.000-08:00

This is what I spend my weekend sewing.

Leather (Faux) + Floral = Perfection (In my mind anyways!)

Required2beInspired is Changing to TashaDelrae.com

2012-01-26T18:35:00.002-08:00

I just wanted to let all of you know that I have decided to go ahead with changing my blog name and URL.

Required2BeInspired no longer felt right to me. I realized that when I read a blog I usually notice the name right away, and always associate the blog name with the blogger. I don't want to be known as the girl behind Required2BeInspired, but rather Tasha Delrae.

This change has been on my mind for a very long time, and I knew that if I didn't go ahead with it, it would be something that I would either regret, or always be considering. So it's time for me to follow my gut instinct on this one!

Over the weekend I will be working of changing everything over from Required2BeInspired to TashaDelrae.com. The only major change on my blog will be the URL and Header, otherwise everything else should stay the same! This change shouldn't inconvenience anyone because all traffic from Required2BeInspired with automatically be redirected to my new site.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout this blogging journey!

See you over at www.TashaDelrae.com next week!!

XOXO

Natasha

Make it Fit

2012-01-26T06:42:00.004-08:00

What:

Blouse- Thrifted

Belt- Target

Velveteen Skinnies- Kohls Similar

Boots- Dolce Vita

I thrifted this blouse awhile back, I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to wear! Even though the blouse is a few sizes too big, I absolutely could not pass it up, so instead I just wear it wrapped over in the front with a belt to hold it in place. The perfect solution!

Wonderful Wedges

2012-01-25T16:30:00.001-08:00

I find that with the extra stability of a thick heel along with a platform under my toes to minimizes the actual height of the heel, wedges work great for chasing (and catching) my daughter!

As a fashion obsessed mother I am always kept on my toes…quite literally! My daughter is at the stage where she thinks it's funny to run away from me….and boy is she ever fast!

When I was pregnant I thought that I was going to have to make a lot of style sacrifices as soon as I gave birth (yes starting at the hospital!)…thank goodness I was wrong! Instead of making sacrifices I've only made compromises. I thought I was going to have to say good-bye to my heels, but instead I said "bring on the cute wedge shoes!!"

(Source Macys.com)

When I purchase my wedge shoes there are a few things I look for:

Ankle stability- Any strap to hold my foot in will do!

Comfort: I try them on and take a few laps…or practice chasing Vyla..haha!

Heel width: The thicker the heel the more stable the shoe.

Heel incline: I measure the heel by subtracting the platform height from the heel height, meaning a 4" heel with a 1" platform is really only a 3" incline. I like mine to be about 3" or lower.

If you could only live in one style of shoes what would you choose?

Teasing

2012-01-25T06:23:00.001-08:00

What:

Sweater- Kohls Similar and Similar

Dress- H&M

Scarf- Gift

Tights- Ardenes

Boots- Dolce Vita

I really like the look of coats and sweaters (dusters? or is that just the old term from about '98?) that graze the hem of whatever's worn underneath.

It's almost like my dress hem is being a tease from underneath all that heavy wool.

Shirt-tails, Ruffles and Leather

2012-01-24T05:51:00.000-08:00

What:

Blazer- BCBG Similar

Blouse- Thrifted Similar

Pants- Self Made Similar or Similar

Shoes- DSW

I haven't gotten to wear these pants nearly as often as I would like, which I can blame mostly on the fact that up until recently I didn't own many extra long tops.

I strongly believe that with legging like pants it is quite important to keep things a bit covered up, my behind included..haha..but now that I have many tops that are perfectly long enough I'm afraid I might wear these pants so often that you get sick of seeing them!

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I Got My New Boots On

2012-01-23T06:03:00.008-08:00

What:

Sweater- Joe Fresh Similar

Belt- Target

Blouse- Winners

Jeans- Gap Similar

Boots- Dolce Vita

I can't believe it's taken me over a month to debut these new boots on my blog...especially considering how many times I've worn them in the past month.

I'd been wanting a shorter pair of black boots that could be worn casual or dressed up for awhile now...and these fit the bill perfectly (even better they were on sale)!

Inspired By: Floral Blazers

2012-01-22T11:00:00.000-08:00

Floral prints have been everywhere lately...which of course makes me very happy! I strongly believe that I need a bold printed blazer in my closet pronto! Of course I can't afford many of these beauties, but I can always pull inspiration from them and sew my own version for myself. The only problem is I don't know what style I would like the most...I love the idea of a black collar like 2, or mixing prints like 6 & 7. I think I would stick with a classic tailored blazer shape, but I'm also toying with the idea of making a blazer with a printed body with (faux or real) leather sleeves. Now I just need to find the time, and the perfect fabric!

1. ASOS Floral Print Blazer

2. Thankoon Orchid Tuxedo Jacket

3. Etro Paisley Printed Jacket

4. Etro Multi-Color Blazer

5. Dries Van Noten Byrus Jacket

6. Mary Katrantzou Floral Jacket

7. Dolce & Gabanna Silk Blazer

8. Zara Floral Print Blazer

From Summer to Winter

2012-01-19T06:17:00.003-08:00

What:

Faux Fur Vest- Made by Brianna Similar

Sweater- Winners

Blouse- Thrifted Similar

Skirt- DIY Project Similar

Boots- Spring

This past summer I wore this skirt with a teal blouse and I loved the combination.

I decided to try the same colours together for winter, and then added a few layers on top to keep me warm in this -30 degree weather!

Changes

2012-01-18T06:16:00.003-08:00

For the past year I have been seriously thinking about changing my blog name and url, but kept putting it off because I thought it would be too much of a hassle to change everything associated with it (email address, Chictopia, facebook...etc).

Required2BeInspired was the name I chose over three years ago when I first started my blog (and then gave up on a month later). When I started blogging again a year later instead of choosing to start over I just continued with my "old blog". But now over three years later I can't stop thinking about how juvenile the name is. Not only does it sound some what arrogant, but the number 2 right in the middle of the url and name makes it an almost impossible for people who are just being introduced to my blog to remember.

I'm starting to feel like my blog name doesn't reflect my blog or myself at all anymore, so it's time for me to suck it up and get on with the change!

The only issue is I don't know what I want my blog name to be!!

The only idea I have so far is:

Tasha Delrae: Because my first name is Natasha, and my middle name is Delrae...I've always liked the sound of Tasha Delrae (Doesn't it sound like it could be a cool brand?)

Of course another option would be Natasha Delrae.

I would love to hear your opinion on this possible change. And of course any blog name ideas are more than welcome!

I've added a poll onto my Facebook Page, please vote!

Lounge Wear

2012-01-17T08:43:00.000-08:00

What:

Dress- H&M

Jacket- Zellers

Tights and Belt- Ardenes

Boots- Spring

In the winter there's nothing I love more than wearing cozy knits from head to toe.

Usually if I'm spending the day lounging around home with no intentions of being seen by anyone other than my daughter and hubby, I'll wear yoga pants and a hoodie. There's no denying the comfort of that outfit...but I strongly believe that it's purpose is for lounging or doing yoga...nothing else.

Comfort wise I would compare this outfit I'm wearing to be right up there with lounge wear....which means that it is totally possible to dress stylish and comfortable at the same time, even in the middle of winter!!

Winter Fashion: Smitten

2012-01-12T06:19:00.005-08:00

Hey, I'm Jenna from Smitten guest blogging here today while Natasha is on a holiday!

So I've lived in Edmonton my whole life and it sometimes gets ridiculously cold here in the winter. Some tricks and things I try to do to keep warm are:

Layers, one can never layer too much, a tshirt under my dress, with a sweater or cardigan over top. The best part of layers are you're warm outside and when you come in you can remove one!

Double up tights, I buy thick knit wool tights and when it reaches -25 I definitely wear two at a time

Good boots, I stole my moms, which are a size too big, so I wear a few pairs of really fuzzy thick socks in them and my feet are always nice and toasty. I refuse to wear uggs

Wearing my hair down, well I very rarely wear it up, except when working out. But wearing it down in the winter keeps my ears/neck warm

Cozy scarfs, scarfs with everything! Nothing cozier than a nice thick scarf

Thick knits, like the sweater I'm wearing here, it's nice and thick! Plus a thick sweater like this is such a nice insulating layer under my coat

This is a wintery look that I really like, it's very warm and cozy without compromising my style. I've had this striped dress for a year and it's still a favourite of mine. I recently got this long rust cardigan for 1/4th the price! It's so nice and warm and I love the colour.

Thanks,

xJennaD

Outfit: Dress-f21, Cardigan-Urban Outfitters, Ring&Scarf-Ardene, Tights-Payless, Belt-Thrift, Boots-Moms

Get a Grip

2012-01-11T05:55:00.003-08:00

What:

Blouse- Boa Apparel

Belt- Target

Vest- Self Made

Jeans- Gap

Booties- DIY

I finally got around to wearing the sequin heeled booties that I had DIYed. I was a little worried that the sequins wouldn't survive the snow...but so far so good!

Now I just need to figure out how to add some grip to the bottom of these shoes...I look a little silly slipping around in the snow with my arms flailing about while chasing a 2 year old....but that's still not a good enough reason for me to start wearing sensible shoes! These would totally be sensible if only they had some grip.

Winter Fashion: My Edit

2012-01-10T05:35:00.001-08:00

I like winter, a bit. Snow is cute until about Christmas, maybe New Years, and then I am ready to be over it. And though I don't live in Winnepeg and I don't have to deal with winter until June (kidding... mostly), I might as well settle into the winter because it'll be here until the end of March.

If you had asked me 15 years ago how to handle the winter cold in a stylish manner, I would have told you to go get yourself a matching scarf, toque and gloves. Preferably pink and preferably with shiny lurex threads knit through... You know the ones. 5 years ago I thought that the only way to beat the cold was to find myself a coat that looked like a black sleeping bag with a furry hood. I wasn't the only one who thought that. Any glimpse outside on a crisp January day on a busy Toronto street would have shown an army of sleeping bags carrying their Tim Hortons cups to work. I had an epiphany two years ago when I found a chic yet incredibly warm jacket for $15 at a thrift store. It turns out you can be warm and stylish. Too bad it took me so long to figure that out...

My Edit

Looking Back in Fashion: July-December 2011

2012-01-09T06:53:00.002-08:00

Here is the second part of my outfit review from the past year. I think most of these outfits highlight my favorite trends from 2011....brights, chunky knits, cut outs and mullet hems!

Original Post

Seeing the last few pictures with all the snow in them (and my very pale skin) makes me very happy that I'm currently bathing in the warm sun on a beach in Mexico at this moment! I'm sorry, I couldn't resist rubbing it in a little ;)

Winter Fashion: O My Heart

2012-01-06T05:19:00.000-08:00

Hi all! My name is Kate and I run a blog called O My Heart! I'm popping over to visit today while Natasha is off enjoying her holidays! It was all too appropriate that Natasha asked me to do a post about staying both warm & stylish, as we've been hit with FRIGID temperatures this week and I wasn't even sure how I was going to get photos for this post - so this is a true cold weather photoshoot, so much so that I couldn't even show you the outfit underneath! But, this does showcase some of my absolute winter essentials!

The first one might not be obvious from first glance, but one of my biggest winter essentials is fleece lined tights. Yup, that's right. my tights are lined with fleece. I'm not huge on wearing pants, so was thrilled to find a way to stay warm & toasty while still sporting skirts and dresses all winter long!

Another winter essential for me is tall wedge boots. I find wedges are the best, as you still feel put together, but have the sturdiness of the wedge, and I also find it helps keep you up out the slush and snow a little more than a flat boot!

And lastly, a very warm winter coat that's still flattering and cute! This one is by Canadian designer Soia & Kyo - their coats are so warm and heavy, but still so fun with amazing little details!

Thanks so much to Natasha for having me, and to all of you lovely folks for reading, and feel free to come visit me over at O My Heart! Stay warm, loves!

(Coat: Soia & Kyo, Bag & Boots: Aldo, Tights: Via Spiga, Sunglasses: Joe Fresh)

Black, Pink and Grey

2012-01-04T05:56:00.004-08:00

What:

Dress- Self Made

Sweater- Joe Fresh

Boots- Spring

I hope everyone is having a great 2012 so far! On Monday I went skiing for the first time in 13 years (I snowboarded between then), although my first run was pretty brutal I am definitely better at skiing than I ever was at boarding...so that was a lot of fun!

We've been hanging out in Southern BC (dividing time between Cranbrook, Creston and Kimberley) for the past few weeks spending time with Family. It's been a lot of fun, and it's always nice to be back "home" (I was raised in Creston, Brody in Cranbrook. After we were married Brody and I lived in Cranbrook for a few years before moving 13hrs away a year ago).

We won't be heading back home until the 16th, because on Sunday we (minus Vyla) head to the Mayan Riviera for a week! It will be great to get away from the snow!

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Winter Fashion: Shoes Are My Muse

2012-01-03T06:17:00.000-08:00

While I'm away enjoying my winter vacation with my family I asked some of my favorite Canadian Fashion Bloggers to share some tips and tricks for staying warm and stylish in the cold weather. I hope you enjoy the inspiration!

Hi, my name is Brianna and I'm happy to be guest posting for Natasha while she's off galavanting! Natasha has asked what other bloggers do for their daily outfit posts to keep things interesting through the long winter months, so here are a few ways I make the most of winter dressing!

Lots of layers are key to winter dressing for me, to keep things interesting I try unexpected combinations....

This girly cardigan mixes things up with the rest of this more boyish styled outfit

Hats always add extra oomph for me, and are great for the winter since approximately 30% of your body heat is lost through your head!

Sweaters with mohair are super warm! Of course tights of all different colors and prints are a winter must! I always shop at Winners for mine and rarely ever spend over $5 a pair and you should see my collection....

I love this maxi dress, so to keep wearing it through the winter I'll add a top underneath or a blazer and perhaps a scarf overtop to make this ready for winter. Of course I must confess to owning quite a few coats, I mean if I have to wear a coat for 6+ months I better have some variety!

I hope you've enjoyed this post and make sure to stop by my blog ShoesAreMyMuse

Looking Back in Fashion: January-June 2011

2012-01-02T06:54:00.009-08:00

I had so much fun looking back at my outfits from the previous year. Fashion seems like it's always moving way too fast, so it was nice to be able to take some time to look back at my favorite outfits from the past year. So many of these outfits I had already forgotten about...but it's great to look back and remember what styles, shapes, prints and textures I was obsessing over at the time, and gather new inspirtation from each look that I can hopefully bring with me into the New Year.

Original Post

Yellow and Blue

2011-12-29T06:50:00.002-08:00

What:

Sweater- Winners

Dress- Zara

Boots- Winners

I absolutely love how easy it is to switch up how I style this dress because of all the different colours in the print. Sometimes I like to pull out the darker neutrals...and then there are others when I like to play with colours. I love the how the bright yellow and blue look together with the dress as a skirt!

Winter Fashion: Kastles

2011-12-28T06:47:00.003-08:00

Hello everyone, it is Kassandra from Kastles. I hope you are all having a magical Christmas season. Thanks to Natasha for letting me guest post on her blog this week. Natasha and I both share cold winters and trying to be fashion bloggers in harsh weather conditions.

One thing I have learned being a fashion blogger in a colder climate is the beauty of layering. It not only helps you look more put together, but it also helps to keep you warm! When I layer my outfits, I like mixing textures and prints.

In this outfit I have different textures being layered together. Tweed, fur, leather, and wool work well together to create a detailed look. Please head over to my blog, Kastles to see more layered looks.

Floral and Flares

2011-12-27T06:45:00.004-08:00

What:

Blouse- Boa Apparel

Vest- Zara

Belt- Target

Jeans- Self Made

Shoes- DSW

Over a month ago I won the Boa Apparel giveaway hosted by Kristy of Monochromachic, so I chose this blouse (along with another) for my prize. I really love how this whole outfit came together...I always love it when I can show that jeans don't have to be boring!

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Cut Out

2011-12-22T05:01:00.001-08:00

What:

Dress- Self Made (I drafted my own pattern)

Shoes- Nine West

This past Friday I hosted a girls night Christmas party at my house. Any excuse to dress up I'll take (or make)!

I've been in love with simple long sleeved mini-dresses and cut outs lately. I figured that this party would be the perfect excuse to make a dress with all those details!

I hope everyone has an amazing Christmas (or whatever it is you celebrate)! We're off on our 13hr drive first thing this morning to go spend the holidays with our families. It's great having my parents and Brodys parents only an hour apart so that we get to see almost everyone this year!

Follow me on: Bloglovin' ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest

PS. Happy Blogiversary to me!! With all the Christmas crazyness in life right now I almost forgot it's my blogs two year anniversary! Thank you everyone who has made this such a fun adventure for the past 24months!

DIY Bold Shell Necklace

2011-12-21T06:35:00.001-08:00

I've been loving all the bold metallic necklaces we've been seeing everywhere lately.

I got digging around in my craft supplies and quickly realized that large shells could easily be painted and made into a funky bold necklace!

Materials and Supplies

- Shells (3 was the magic number for me!)

- Drill with small bit

- Metallic Spray Paint

- Chain

- Jump Rings

- Lobster Clasp

- Eye pins

- Pliers (pronged & regular work best)

Instructions

1. Use your drill to make two small holes on each shell on opposite sides of the "tip". I did this by using a very small drill bit, and I drilled over a box so that I didn't end up puncturing my table.

2. Spray paint both sides of your shell (be sure to let the first side dry before spraying the other).

3. Push an eye pin through both holes at the top of the shell.

4. Use your pliers (pronged work best) to create a loop on the straight side of the pin.

5. Cut a piece of chain large enough to go around your neck plus a bit extra. Use a jump ring to attach a lobster clasp to one end of the chain.

6. Lay out your shells below the chain, and start attaching them by connecting a jump ring from the chain to the loops on each shells. The reason that I made two holes for the shell was because if each shell was attached in two places instead of one they wouldn't end up spinning around on the chain.

All Done!!

The necklace pictured above was made with shells about half the size of the ones used for the necklace I'm wearing in the first picture.

And of course there's always the option of only using one shell.

How's that for a last minute Christmas present for a friend!?!

Red and Gold

2011-12-20T15:21:00.000-08:00

What:

Blazer- Thrifted

Top- Self Made

Velveteen Pants- Kohls

Shoes- DIYed

When Collette from Statements in Fashion asked a bunch of us bloggers to all wear a Christmas colours for today I had no idea what I was going to wear. The colours to choose from were Red, Green, Blue, Silver, White and Gold. This red blazer seemed like the perfect Christmas topper, and I'd been waiting a few weeks to wear this blouse I recently made....an instant no (well, little) thought required outfit!

PS. I hate taking indoor pictures....but I've been couped up with the Flu, and when I finally felt like getting dressed to go to town it decided to snow like crazy outside...so indoor pictures it is! And off to town I go :)

PPS. Be sure to check out everyone elses Christmas Colours here!

Something Bold

2011-12-19T06:53:00.003-08:00

What:

Blouse- JC Penney

Blazer- BCBG

Necklace- DIYed (Instructions to come)

Jeans- Gap

Shoes- DSW

It's not too often that I wear an outfit that doesn't have any pop of colour in it....

...but when I do I like to make sure I'm wearing something bold to make up for it.

This necklace was my "something bold"...

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PS. Congratulations to Marie-Eve for winning the Go Chic or go Home giveaway!

Blue and Black

2011-12-15T06:01:00.002-08:00

What:

Dress- c/o eShakti

Tights- Winners

Shoes- Spring

When I was contacted by eShakti to see if I was interested in doing a review of one of their products I immediately began browsing through their large selection of dresses. eShakti is an online clothing store that allows you to have most garments customized. I thought this would be a great company for me to team up with because I sew a lot of my own customized clothes....and this way those of you who don't sew can also have customized clothing!

This dress I chose did not originally come with long sleeves, but I chose to have them added because I like the idea of long (sleek) sleeves in the winter time.

I was very impressed with the quality of this dress, the seam details were much better than I expected, and the dress came fully lined. The one thing that I was disappointed in was my sleeves. It seemed like there was no thought put into the shape of the sleeve, so what I ended up with was a very wide rectangle sleeve. I ended up taking in the sleeve over 3 inches around the wrist, and tapering up towards the armpit.

I emailed eshakti to address this issue, and suggested that they add a wrist/hand measurement when adding long sleeves. I've been told that they are working on a solution to that problem.

Use the code R2B0811 for $20 off your purchase at eShakti from now until Dec 31

Undecided

2011-12-14T11:30:00.000-08:00

What:

Sweater- Joe Fresh

Tank- Winners

Skirt- DIY

Boots- Winners

I am very on the fence about this outfit. I really wanted to wear the new mullet skirt I made...but I was wanting to wear something a bit more casual as well.

So I put on a chunky knit sweater and some cowgirl boots to tone down the skirt a bit.

I'm still a little undecided of the outcome. I was even having second thoughts about posting this outfit...but I really like how the pictures turned out.

Button and Lace Necklace DIY

2011-12-14T08:44:00.000-08:00

I always love finding easy ways to make cool accessories. For this most recent creation I used up some left over lace trim and some gold buttons. You can find the tutorial here at OhSoKendallishious!

Also, don't forget that there's only a few days left to enter the Go Chic or Go Home Giveaway for a chance to win a $50 gift card!

Sequins

2011-12-13T06:11:00.002-08:00

What:

Sequined Top- Gap

Sweater- Joe Fresh

Skirt- Self Made

Shoes- DSW

Sequins totally make up for having crazy hair, right?

Breaking Down Walls

2011-12-12T06:27:00.002-08:00

What:

Sweater- Suzy Shier

Necklace- DIY

Dress- H&M

Tights- Walmart

Boots- Steve Madden

I really like how fashion blogging has opened my eyes to new things. I realize that layering a chunky knit sweater over a dress isn't a new thing, but it's probably not something I would have worn in the past. Does this mean that because I have a fashion blog I wear things only because they're trendy, not because I like them? Nope not at all! What it means is that two years ago I would have sat back and admired an outfit like this instead of actually wearing it myself. Instead of fully taking part in fashion, I just sat back and wished I could be that girl.

I remember in College admiring all the girls who could pull off wearing pretty much anything. I don't know why I didn't try to find my own style back then. The silliest thing about this whole story is that I studied Fashion in College! I was surrounded by fashion everyday, but I was too scared to fully take part in it.

I was scared of what people would think if I showed up to class in something that was a little bit different from my normal style (or lack there of). I was scared of looking like a "try hard". But most of all I was just scared of stepping outside of the box....the box that I built myself. The box that said "I won't ever wear black and brown together"....the box that said "I will never wear pointy toed shoes, or skinny heels"...the box that said "I love how that girl styled that outfit, but I could never pull it off...".

I'm so glad that the walls of the box have been ripped down by blogging. I guess I can't give full credit to my blog, because I think growing up had a little bit to do with it too.

I was talking to my friend Brianna on the phone yesterday, and we were discussing how her friends and family often say "Only you could pull off wearing something like that"....we decided that all it comes down to is confidence. When I first starting stepping outside of my box I mustered up a lot of fake confidence, but over time it's turned into the real thing.

So thank you blog, and blog readers for helping this shy, awkward girl grow up a little!! ha ha

And no, I don't think this outfit is anything out of the ordinary....all I'm saying is that the girl who was stuck in the box would have been too scared to wear it....plus she doesn't think that brown and black work together!

PS. Did you see my outfit featured on Forever 21's blog? So excited!

Colourpop!

2011-12-08T06:44:00.002-08:00

What:

Blazer- Thrifted

Top- Thrifted

Skirt- Dynamite

Boots- BCBG via The Shoe Company

Rings- Present from Bri and Anjolee

I really like how there are so many trends from the Summer that can be translated for Winter.

Colour-blocking is right at the top of that list.

I really like how black tights (and my shirt) can really make the bright colours "pop"!

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Lighter Layers

2011-12-07T06:05:00.002-08:00

Pin It

What:

Trench- Urban Behavior (Old)

Scarf- Ardenes

Sweater- Rickis

Pants- Self Made

Shoes- DSW

Pin It

For the last few weeks the weather has been surprisingly warm (warm as in right around freezing, not -20 Celsius), so I've been taking full advantage of it by wearing lighter jackets and pants.

I have to say though, wearing white when the snow is turning to slush is not the best idea. Especially when you have to lift a squirmy 2year old into her car seat while she has slush filled boots from jumping around in the slush puddles!

Are you a Go Chic or go Home member yet? If so make sure you enter this giveaway!

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Go Chic Or Go Home Giveaway

2011-12-06T04:08:00.004-08:00

'Tis this season for gift giving...and I've got one to give to you!

Go Chic or go Home is offering one lucky winner a $50 gift card from any of their retailers!

Go Chic or Go Home is an online fashion community where you can upload pictures of your own clothing and accessories and then use those pictures to build outfits. The other great thing about GCOGH is that you can interact with other fashionistas, all while accumulating points which can later be redeemed for giftcards to your favorite shops.

To Enter you Must:

1. Become a Member by going here.

(Of course exisiting members are more than welcome to enter this giveaway!)
2. Leave a comment letting me know you're a member of Go Chic or Go Home.

This giveaway is open internationally, and will end Dec. 16 at Midnight.

Mullet Skirt Love

2011-12-05T06:37:00.003-08:00

What:

Sweater- Rickis

Necklace- Self Made

Skirt- DIY Project

Boots- Aldo (From Brody)

As you already know (well you should!! haha) that I am in love with mullet skirts. Today I will tell you why!

I love the way the back flows in the wind. (I can't help but giggle thinking about a hair mullet blowing in the wind)

I love that when you bend over you don't have to worry about exposing you cheeks, but your still able to show off your legs.

I love how easy they are to make!

I love that I can wear over the knee socks with them and not feel like my skirt is too short.

And I love how fun they are to wear!

Pin It

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I Wish For....

2011-12-04T06:48:00.002-08:00

1. DKNY Ladies Watch, $140
2. Timex Ladies Watch, $49

3. Timex Ladies Watch, $85

4. Guess Ladies Watch, $185
5. Skagen Ladies Rose Gold Stretch Mesh Band Watch, £119
6. Michael kors watch, £219
7. Seadbead Collar necklace, £17
8. Matthew Williamson Braided Necklace, £64

9. Chi Ceramic Flat Iron 1 Inch, $212

10. ASOS cat eye sunglasses, $22

11. Mango cat eye sunglasses, £23
12. John Lewis cloche hat, £30
13. John Lewis Women Leopard Print Cloche Hat, £25
14. Wendy Mink stackable ring, $50
15. Stackable ring, $40

I thought I would help out my hubby (and whoever else has my name to buy for) a little this year by posting my Christmas Wish list on my blog.

Do I actually want all six watches? No not really, I just couldn't narrow it down to exactly what style I want, so I gave many options instead!

Of course there are a few other items on my wishlist that I didn't show....such as a remote for my camera and a new filing cabinet (preferably wood)...but I didn't think they'd fit in that well with this collage haha.

Stripes and Cowgirl Boots

2011-12-01T06:54:00.005-08:00

What:

Dress- H&M

Boots- Winners

Here I though I was running out of ways to wear this dress, and then along came winter. The perfect time to pull out the coloured tights and cowgirl boots!

Once again simplicity wins.

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Matchy Matchy

2011-11-30T06:29:00.002-08:00

What:

Hat- Gift from Corrine

Blazer- H&M

Sweater- Winners

Jeans- Gap

Boots- Aldo

Nails- Joe Fresh Fuchsia, Lips- L'Oreal Paris Forever Fuchsia 138

Oftentimes when I wear jeans I like to try and step up my outfit a notch in a different area. This might mean wearing unexpected colour combos, or mixing in some fun textures or accessories. For this outfit I went for an unexpected (but not too crazy) layering. Some of you are probably wondering what's so unexpected...but to me the idea of layering a light (and white!) blazer over a chunky knit was a bit strange...but I love how it looks!

Since I was already on a roll with trying something new, I also took the opportunity to match my nail colour to my lip colour. Of course this is not a new concept, but it's something new for me!

When I paint my nails blue I think I'll probably just skip out on the whole matchy matchy thing...

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Simple

2011-11-29T06:19:00.002-08:00

What:

Sweater- Kohls

Blouse- Winners

Skirt- DIY Project

Shoes- DSW

A simple outfit that kept me warm.

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Spreading the Love

2011-11-28T06:43:00.002-08:00

What:

Blouse- Ross

Belt- Target

Skirt- Joe Fresh

Boots- BCBG

Jacket- Winners (gift)

Have I told you how much I love these boots? Well I'm quite fond of them!

Have I told you how much I love elbow length leather gloves in the winter? I think they're the most elegant and functional accessory ever!

Have I told you how much I love this jacket? Thanks Lance and Katie!

Have I told you how much I love this skirt? Joe Fresh you rock!

Have I told you how much I love this blouse? I swear I wear it at least once a week!

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A Week In Review- My Things!

2011-11-27T10:23:00.000-08:00

So often in my "A Week In Review" posts I showcase things that I don't actually own. Today I thought I would show you some things of mine that I've been obsessing over this past week!

Lipsticks Perfect for Winter

L'Oreal Paris Infalliable- Everlasting Plum 712: A perfectly rich dark shade of plum.

Mabelline- Madison Mauve 465: The perfect purple shade for those afraid to try purple lips.

L'Oreal Paris Infalliable- Forever Fuschia 138: A bold bright colour with a bit more blue than this summers hot pink lips.

Bling Bling

Anjolee Diamond Jewelry: This website allows you to fully customize diamond anniversary rings. I chose the Millgrain Edge Diamond and Gemstone Eternity Ring with peridot because I'm a sucker for lime green! Be sure to check out their selection of anniversary rings for women!

Nail Colour

This winter I love the contrast of bright nails with the snow. Joe Fresh makes amazing nail polish, I've never before found yellow nail polish that doesn't require 5 coats to go on. These colours need only a maximum of two coats to look perfect! Polish colours: Cobalt, Moss, Magenta & Pineapple.

Chunky Knit Sweaters

I love them for layering over silky blouses, or pairing them in flowy skirts. Chunky knits work best with a bit of contrast in an outfit (brights with neutrals, chunky with slim fitting, chunky with flowy...etc).

Anjolee gifted me a ring of my choice in exchange for a post. I truly am obsessed with the ring I chose though...I have a feeling it will be getting a lot of wear!

Mullet Skirt (Fishtail Hem) DIY x2

2011-11-24T15:31:00.001-08:00

A long time ago I promised DIY instructions to make your own mullet skirt. Of course if you don't feel like making one from scratch you can follow these instructions using an existing skirt.

I've also included instructions for adding a mullet skirt to a dress pattern so you can make a "mullet dress"!!

Materials and Supplies

- Paper

- Pencil

- Measuring Tape

- Scissors

- Tailors Chalk

- Sewing Machine

- Fabric (Approx 1.5m)

- Thread to Match

- 1cm wide Elastic (length = your waist measurement)

Instructions

1. Draw a circle with the circumference being the same measurement as your hips. Cut or fold in half (or only draw half).

2. Lay out your fabric as shown below. Place your half circle pattern on the fabric along the fold the measurement of the length that you want your skirt to be in the front + 3cm (1 3/8") from the left edge.

3. Measure from the opposite side of your waist hole along the fold towards the right edge of the fabric the length that you would like the back of your skirt to be. Mark there with tailors chalk.

4. Measure down from the center edge of the waist circle towards the bottom of your fabric the length that you would like your sides to be. Mark there with tailors chalk.

The measurements that I used for my skirt:

Front length = 46cm (18")

Back length = 76cm (30")

Side length= 56cm (22")

5. Use tailors chalk to join all your marks with curved lines.

6. Cut out your pattern by cutting out the waist hole and around the line you just made.

7. Make a casing for your elastic by turning down the inside edge of the waist circle 2cm (3/4") towards the inside of the skirt, then sew around it at 1.5 cm (5/8"), leaving a hole in the center back to feed your elastic through.

8. Feed your elastic through the casing (I used a safety pin to help pull it through). Sew both ends of the elastic together. Sew the hole closed. For clearer instructions on making a casing see steps 4-8 on this tutorial.

9. Hem your skirt with whatever method you'd like. I serged mine using the rolled hem setting. If you don't have a serger that does this I would recommend doing a small rolled hem.

Because the fabric I used was sheer I lined my skirt, and completely skipped steps 7 and 8 by sewing together a tube of fabric the width of my hips and the length of the front of the skirt. I joined it to the mullet skirt by putting the pretty side of the mullet skirt fabric against the ugly side of the tube and sewed them together at the top of the tube and the waist circle of the skirt. Then I flipped my skirt right sides out, pressed everything flat along the top. and then sewed in 1.5cm (5/8") along the top edge leaving a hole in the center back to feed my elastic through the two layers.

How to Alter a Dress Pattern to have a Mullet Skirt

Find a dress pattern that has a seam along the waist and a center back zipper (I used Butterick B6582)
Find out what the finished waist measurement is of the size you are making.
Make the mullet skirt pattern using the finished waist measurement instead of the hip measurement.
I would recommend putting some kind of marking on the top part of the dress and the skirt at the center front so you can make sure everything is lined up correctly while sewing.
After you've cut out your skirt pattern cut the fold along the center back from top to bottom.
Usually the addition of a back seam would mean that we should make the circle measurement bigger, but with so much of the waistline being along the bias it actually will stretch more than enough to make up for that.
Sew together your dress attaching the circle skirt to the patter instead of the original skirt pieces!

Please feel free to email me if you have any questions!

Contrast of Textures

2011-11-23T06:05:00.002-08:00

What:

Sweater- Suzy Shier

Skirt- H&M

Boots- Aldo (Present from Brody)

This maxi skirt is turning out to be a great piece for all seasons. The fabric may be a light flowy summer weight, but paired with some thick tights and boots underneath it is perfect for winter!

I really like how this chunky knit sweater looks with this skirt...the contrast of texture is perfect.

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Fabulous Faux Fur Find

2011-11-22T06:33:00.002-08:00

What:

Jacket- Thrifted

Scarf- TJ Maxx

Purse & Gloves- Winners

Pants- Kohls

Boots- BCBG

Thank you so much everyone who commented on yesterdays post. It was great to hear every ones thoughts on my winter dressing dilemma!

A few weeks ago while I was visiting my parents in Southern BC, my Sister In-Law and I went to the local thrift store and scored ourselves some fantastic finds. I found this faux fur jacket for $4! Five minutes later I found this jacket for $25 (more on that one at a later date though).

As I was inspecting this jacket I noticed that there were no tags, or signs of them ever existing...I also noticed that there was a lot of hand stitching and signs that told me the jacket was hand made. The buttons were interesting as well....very old looking. I strongly believe that this jacket was handmade in the 60's which was indicated by the buttons and the shape and style of the jacket. Isn't it great how vintage styles can look completely current? Initially I assumed that this jacket was a recent store brand product. I'm glad I was wrong though.

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PS. Congratulations to Kimberly for winning the Dinair Airbrush Makeup Kit!

Winter Fashion Woes

2011-11-21T09:42:00.000-08:00

What:

Jacket- Self Made (This post)

Scarf- Thrifted

Hat- Joe Fresh

Jeans- Liquidation World $3

Shoes- DSW

I've mentioned it before on my blog how much I dislike winter. I think that statement would be different if I lived somewhere where it only snowed three times a year, or the average temperature in the wintertime was no colder that -7 Celsius.

The fact is that this is where I live, so I'm going to just have to learn to deal with it!

As a fashion blogger I feel like winter completely throws me off my "game". I feel like the cold weather limits my wardrobe so much that it's hard to still be creative with my outfits. I know that I can still dress stylish, but I don't have as many options for mixing things up. Does this make sense? Cold weather to me usually means a warm stylish coat, leather gloves and warm pants or thick tights. This formula could quickly become repetitive and boring, and that's the last thing I want!

Another winter blogging issue I keep thinking about is how does my weather effect the people who read my blog? I know I can't change my weather...so I know I have to deal with it, and I will continue to get dressed and post pictures on my blog...but I'm somewhat curious if those of you who live in warmer climates are going to be less intrigued to see what I'm wearing for the next few months because you can not relate at all to my outfits.

I know for myself that I continue to read blogs from all different climates, but where I live there are four seasons, so I can still be inspired for when the weather changes. There are many people who live in climates that will never have to dress for the cold weather like I do....but then again there are a lot of fashionable people freezing their behinds off this winter along with me!

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A Week In Review- Winter Must Haves

2011-11-20T10:38:00.001-08:00

AWIR Nov 20 by required2beinspired featuring wool hats

Wool jumper dress, $411
MICHAEL Michael Kors michael kors coat, $225
H&M high heel booties, £30
Miss Selfridge wool hat, £25
Jigsaw oversized scarve, £59
Dries Van Noten opera glove, £359
Required2BeInspired
O My Heart!: December 2010
My Edit Jan 2011

This week with all the snow and cold weather where I live I thought it would be appropriate to find and showcase my winter must haves along with a few outfits from last winter by two of my favorite Canadian Fashion bloggers. I was in major need of some winter fashion inspiration, so it was great to look back at fashionable outfits from last winter.

What are your winter fashion must haves? or winter style secrets?

Get Used to It!

2011-11-17T06:45:00.001-08:00

What:

Dress- Self Made

Sweater- Winners

Boots- Winners

I keep getting comments from people saying they can't believe how much snow there is here already. I wish I didn't have the snow yet (or ever) either, but I live in Northern BC, which means there's lots of snow and cold weather in the winter time...and it lasts way too long....so I'd better get used to it!

Be Sure to Enter my Giveaway to win a Dinair Airbrush Make-Up Kit!

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What a Party

2011-11-16T06:05:00.002-08:00

What:

Dress- Self Made (Top part of the dress Butterick 6582, skirt drafted/altered...DIY to come)

Blazer- BCBG

Boots- ASOS

This past weekend my siblings and I held a surprise party for my parents 30th Anniversary. This is what I wore.

The party was held in my hometown which is 13hrs away. In the end we had to partly ruin the surprise in order to get my parents out to the hall (they were being VERY difficult)...but it didn't really matter because my mom was so suprised (and had the best reaction ever) when she saw her mom. My grandma is 91, and lives about 10hrs from my parents, but we flew her down for the party. The last time she had been to my parents house was for my wedding four years ago.

The Reaction

The Family

((From Back to Front, Left to Right: My Brother Dallas, My Hubby Brody, Me, My Brother Lance, My Sis-In-Law Katie. Dad, Mom, Grandma. My Daughter Vyla, My Nephews Hunter and Luke)

Four Generations

Brights Make Things Better

2011-11-15T06:13:00.002-08:00

What:

Sweater & Necklace- Joe Fresh

Blouse- Zara via LW Dyed by me

Jeans- Gap

Boots- Spring

I'm not too fond of the snow...I am quite fond of bright colours though!

Don't forget to Enter my Giveaway to win a Dinair Airbrush Make-Up Kit!

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Textured Neutrals

2011-11-14T08:15:00.000-08:00

What:
Necklace- Suzy Shier
Sweater- Papaya
Blouse- Zara via Liquidation World $3
Vest- Self Made (Drafted)
Skirt- Joe Fresh
Tights-?
Boots- Aldo

Much like my last outfit this one also consists of a bunch of neutrals...and once again I played around with different textures.

One thing I love about Fall/Winter is being able to break out the faux fur!

Speaking of fur...did you see the Lambswool jacket I Thrifted for $25? I am in LOVE!

Be Sure to Enter my Giveaway to win a Dinair Airbrush Make-Up Kit!

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A Week In Review: Brianna's Picks

2011-11-13T06:06:00.001-08:00

Hi, my name is Brianna and I blog over at Shoes Are My Muse. I'm happy to be guest posting for Natasha while she is away and to share with you some things I've been coveting lately!

A Week In Review By Bri by shoesaremymuse featuring shoes

Nine West Canada
3.1 Phillip Lim pants, $425
Sam Edelman shoes, $323
ASOS sandals, $117
Shoes
Marie a la Mode: The Coat
Required2BeInspired: Spots And Polka Dots
Stella & Dot
Cheap & Chic: Vogue's 20 Under $20 Beauty Buys - Vogue Daily - Vogue
All Necklaces - Necklaces - Shop by Category

Thank you Natasha for letting me guest post, and I hope everyone has enjoyed my week in review. Be sure to stop by and say hi to me over at Shoes Are My Muse.

Dinair Giveaway!!

2011-11-10T06:36:00.003-08:00

Tuesday I told you guys how much I loved my Dinair Airbrush make-Up kit, and now I am very excited to tell you about the giveaway being sponsored by Dinair!

(Source)

One lucky reader will win the Dinair Personal Pro Edition Airbrish make-up kit!

This kit includes everything you need to get started doing beautiful flawless make-up.

This giveaway is open to Everyone!!

You can do ANY (or all) of the following options to be entered. Each thing you do is worth an additional entry, so please leave separate comments for everything, and make sure you leave a way for me to contact you if you win!!

- "Like" Dinair on Facebook

-Follow Dinair on Twitter

-Tweet about this giveaway "Check out the #giveaway that @natashajanzen is hosting for a chance to win an Airbrush Make-up kit by @dinair http://required2beinspired.blogspot.com/2011/11/dinair-giveaway.html"

-Follow my blog on Google or Bloglovin'

-Tell me how we know each other in "real life" (I figured my non-blogging friends needed a way to enter...haha)

This contest is open until Mid-Night Nov 20

Spots and Polka Dots

2011-11-09T06:12:00.005-08:00

What:

Blouse- Winners

Skirt- Joe Fresh

Tights- Joe Fresh

Shoes- ASOS

Whenever I wear an outfit that is all neutrals I like to make sure that I'm wearing a few different textures to keep things interesting. Bright lips help too!

I really like how this outfit turned out using a few different types of spots.

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Dinair Airbrush Make-Up

2011-11-08T06:33:00.002-08:00

About a month ago I was contacted by Dinair to see if I would be interested in doing a review of their Airbrush Make-up system to help announce it's arrival in Canada...of course I jumped at the opporunity!

(Source price in Canadian Dollars)

I will admit that at first when I thought of airbrushed make-up, I pictured perfectly done "fake-up"...you know the perfectly fake looking painted on face. I'm so glad I was wrong about that! Although if that's the look you're into the airbrush system can do that too!

For the last few weeks I'm been playing around with my kit, improving my technique and trying new things. I wanted to wait to post a review until I had a chance to figure things out.

I love this stuff!

The first few times I tried the Airbrush it took me awhile to get things right. My advice is to watch the video, and then start to play around. Don't expect to have it figured out right away. At first it took me about half an hour to make-up my face using the system. Now I can do it in 5-7mins. That is with about 3 weeks practice. I will admit that each time I try to do my eyeliner it's far from perfect...maybe that will come with time.

What I love most is that I can very easily blend my own colours (I mix three different shades for the perfect foundation...and it takes about 30seconds to mix the colours). I also love how natural it looks, how easy it is to cover up blemishes (just look at the pictures above!!), and how well it blends...no more make-up lines for me!

The Dinair airbrush system is not limited to just the easy stuff (foundation and blush), but you can also contour your face using bronzer and illuminators as well as adding eyeshadow, eyeliner, and lipstick. In these pictures I filled in my brows, applied my foundation, blush, highlighter and eyeshadow all using Dinair...the only other make-up I'm wearing is mascara.

I was very impressed with the customer service Dinair offers. Not only do they offer a free online colour match, but they offer also offer free make-up lessons over Skype, and instore!

The Dinair Airbrush Make-Up Systems can be purchased Online(Canadian Site, American Site), and also at the Toronto Eaton Center Sears

Stay tuned for a fantastic giveaway!!!!

(Dinair provided me with the Studio Beauty Edition kit, and asked that I review the product. This is my honest opinion!)

Nothing Fancy

2011-11-07T06:31:00.002-08:00

What:

Blazer- Thrifted $2.25

Top- TJ Maxx

Velveteen Pants- Kohls

Shoes- DSW

It's funny how everyone's idea of dressed up is different.

When my hubby got home from work he asked me if I was going out. I said "Ya, I'm going to the grocery store, and I'm going to pick up the mail". He replied, "Oh I thought maybe you were going out with your friends tonight, you're all dressed up". I explained to him that all I was wearing was a blazer, some sequins, pants and some heels...nothing fancy right? haha

A Dream and a Wish

2011-11-06T06:13:00.008-08:00

I think a girl should always be allowed to dream right? This is my "if money were no object" wish list!

1. Christian Louboutin high heel pumps, $835

I absolutely love the metallic details!

2. Matthew Williamson long sleeve evening dress, $4,375

Hello Disco Ball...haha

3. Christian Louboutin patent leather high heels, $675

Colour blocking - Check

Loafer style - Check

Bold Heel - Check

Amazing - Check!!

4. Embroidered handbag

Embellished amazingness!

5. Simon G. Peridot Ring from Kranich's
I can't resist lime green...and in bling it's even better!

6. Proenza Schouler asymmetrical dress, $3,713

I love the print and the leather trim.

7. Ash black biker jacket, $1,239

Tough Chic!

8. Ritani Diamond Necklace from Kranich's

I love statement necklaces, and what girl doesn't love diamonds?

Learning the OUCH way

2011-11-03T06:41:00.002-07:00

What:

Blouse- Self Made (Drafted Pattern)

Vest- Zara

Pants- Zara

Shoes- Nine West

I made this shirt last week...I made it very simple and plain...and yet somehow I managed to do something unusual!

I sewed through my finger! Ouch!!

I always wondered how people could sew through their fingers...I'd been sewing for 19 years, and it had never happened to me. Really the thought of it didn't make sense.

Now I know...and it's really something you don't want to figure out! haha

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Little Details

2011-11-02T05:38:00.002-07:00

What:

Blazer- Winners

T-shirt- Suzy Shier

Skirt- Dynamite

Tights- Gift from Bri

Shoes- DSW

I like how the little details can change the look of a simple outfit.

The studded blazer lapels and my printed tights keep things interesting here.

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Well Worn

2011-11-01T06:37:00.001-07:00

What:

Sweater- Papaya

Vest- Zara

Scarf- Ardenes

Jeans- Gap

Boots- Aldo

Most of the days that I don't post pictures on my blog I am usually wearing these jeans (or their darker sister pair).

The reason that you don't see those outfits on my blog is because I wear them so much that I'm afraid I would bore you. Of course every now and then they like to make an appearance though!

I hope everyone had a great Halloween yesterday! Originally I had sewed Vyla a rabbit costume, but it ended up way too big...so I made a quick trip to the dollar store, bought some angel wings, a tutu, and a bunch of fake flowers....painted the wings and tutu bright green, glued on a bunch of fake flowers, and sprayed a bunch of glitter all over the place and turned her into a "flower fairy".

My little fairy... Vyla

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What I like Most

2011-10-31T06:12:00.002-07:00

What:

Blazer- BCBG

Dress- H&M

Tights- Joe Fresh

Booties- Guess (Via Winners)

I'm not sure what I like most in my outfit...the colour combo, the blazer, or my booties!?!

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Old to New in October: Sequined Heel Booties

2011-10-27T05:37:00.007-07:00

I have to admit I'm a little sad that today is my last Old to New in October project...I had so much fun re-vamping the boring things in my wardrobe!
I'm so glad that Kimberly and I were able to share such a fun idea with everyone!

Once again I chose to refashion a pair of boots.

First I un-zipped the boot, and cut off the shaft so I was left with a bootie.

Next I glued on some trim around the top edge to cover up the raw edge.

Then I traced a pattern of the heel onto tracing paper, cut out some black mesh fabric from the pattern and went a little crazy sewing on sequins. For more details on sewing the sequins check out this DIY Project.

Next I glued the sequined piece to the heel of my shoe, I cut off any loose edges of fabric, then I glued the decorative trim around the top and bottom edge. If I wasn't so lazy I would have filled in more sequins around the edges of the heel instead of glueing the trim around.

This was definitely a more time consuming project...I actually started it a few months ago, and then kept putting off finishing it. The Old to New in October Challenge was just what I needed to finish this project!

Don't forget that by linking up your project you have a chance to win some great prizes from Anika Burke!!

- First place (most creative/wearable judged by myself, Kimberly and Anika Burke): $20 credit to www.anikaburke.com PLUS the Elegant Rose flower bracelet and two matching accessories!

To qualify for the random draws you must link back to Anika Burke some how in your post.

- Random draw #1: 12 piece prize pack (12 Anika Burke accessories!)

- Random draw #2: 3 piece prize pack (3 Anika Burke accessories!)

Follow me on: Bloglovin' ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest

The Pants, The Shoes

2011-10-26T06:47:00.002-07:00

What:

Sweater- Walmart (Old, Dyed Black)

Blouse- Zara via Liquidation World $3

Necklace- Joe Fresh

Pants- Self Made

Shoes- DIY Project

I am thrilled to tell you that my last outfit wearing these pants has been featured on the Forever21 blog!! Be sure to check out the article here.

I am so happy with how these DIY shoes turned out!

I have another great refashion to post tomorrow for the last installment of Old to New in October with Kimberly!

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Never Fails

2011-10-25T06:37:00.002-07:00

What:

Leather Jacket- Zellers

Draped Top- Dynamite

Blouse- Winners

Velveteen Skinnies- Kohls

Shoes- Nine West

This is my "easy chic" never fail combo. Drapey Top(s) + Skinnies + Pumps

A fun bright colour always helps the equation!

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Mullets Aren't a Bad Hair Day

2011-10-24T06:27:00.000-07:00

What:

Sweater & Necklace- Joe Fresh

Blouse- Ross

Belt- TJ Maxx

Skirt- Self Made

Boots- Beyond The Rack

I would like to introduce you to the mullet skirt I made last week. I know the saying goes "business in the front and a party in the back"...but I'm going to say that this skirt is a party all around!

I will be posting a tutorial on how to make your own mullet skirt (or fishtail skirt if you want to be a bit more proper) in the next few weeks, but if you don't want to make one from scratch you can always follow these instructions from A Pair and a Spare to alter an exisiting skirt. It would make a great Old to New in October project!!

I thought I should note that absolutely nothing in this outfit actually matches (the skirt print is brown, red, tourquoise, and pale pink)...but I like to tell myself that it totally "goes"!

A Week In Review

2011-10-23T14:23:00.000-07:00

AWIR Oct 23 by required2beinspired featuring black flats

Diane von Fürstenberg skinny leg pants, £271
Givenchy black flat, €398
Mawi chain jewelry, $1,430
a fashion love affair
Miss Melissa
Required2BeInspired

Old to New in October: Boots to Shoes

2011-10-20T05:43:00.003-07:00

Once again it's time to link up this weeks Old to New in October project with myself and Kimberly!

This week I finally had more time to work on my project...and I am so excited to share it with you! Although this project may look time consuming/difficult, it totally wasn't!

Do you have a pair of boots like this at home collecting dust at the back of the closet? Ya, I'm pretty sure many people do (unless you were smart, and realized a long time ago that this style is not the most flattering). I do know for a fact that Brianna doesn't, because I remember about 5 years ago, her making fun of square toed boots and how ugly they were...and I was cringing because I had a pair in my closet, and I kinda thought they were cute! haha

To start off I zipped up my boots, and cut them off following the stitcing line around the foot.

Look how much better they look already!

Next I took some tracing paper, and traced a pattern of each side of the shoe from the center seam to the back seam.

I added seam allowance to the center back (for sewing), the top (for turning under), and the center front (for sewing).

Then I cut out my patterns from some faux pony hair animal print fabric.

I sewed my pieces together at the center front and center back.

Then I took some rubber cement (or shoe glue) and glued my fabric onto the shoe, starting from the front of the shoe working to the back, always lining up the bottom of my fabric with the edge of the sole.

I had to make clip in with my scissors around the front shaped part of the shoe so that I could turn it under and glue the top edge down into the shoe.

Repeat for both shoes!

I think this project maybe took an hour and a half total...easy peasy! And now I have a very on trend pair of shoes!

I bet Brianna's really wishing she had bought into the square toe boot trend all those years ago!

Don't forget that by linking up your project you have a chance to win some great prizes from Anika Burke!!

- First place (most creative/wearable judged by myself, Kimberly and Anika Burke): $20 credit to www.anikaburke.com PLUS the Elegant Rose flower bracelet and two matching accessories!

To qualify for the random draws you must link back to Anika Burke some how in your post.

- Random draw #1: 12 piece prize pack (12 Anika Burke accessories!)

- Random draw #2: 3 piece prize pack (3 Anika Burke accessories!)

Not So Bore-Jean

2011-10-19T06:12:00.002-07:00

What:

Vest- Self Made

Blouse- Zara ($3 @ Liquidation World)

Jeans- Buffalo ($3 @ Liquidation World)

Shoes- Aldo

Ring & Necklace- Suzy Shier

Quite often I feel like my outfits with jeans aren't "blog worthy"...which is why many don't end up on my blog.

But when I add faux fur and a fun bold necklace, suddenly jeans don't look so boring!

Don't forget that the next Old to New in October is Tomorrow. I can NOT wait to show you what I did this week!!

The Sleeves

2011-10-18T06:48:00.000-07:00

What:

T-shirt- DIY

Necklace- Joe Fresh

Pants- Self Made

Shoes- DSW

To be completely honest with you...I wasn't sure how much I was actually going to like this t-shirt I DIYed. I was in such a rush to finish the DIY on time that I never actually tried it on when I was finished...in fact when I took the pictures for that blog post the glue in the sleeve hem was still wet!

I finally got around to trying it on, and I love it! I was worried that the sleeves needed to be either wider, or shorter to look right on...but now I realize they're perfect. I was also concerned that the glue I used would either make the hem too stiff or too sticky...I was also wrong about that.

I really love how the gold sleeves make this whole outfit more interesting!

A Dress and Sparkles

2011-10-17T06:34:00.002-07:00

What:

Card- GAP

Dress- H&M

Tights- Joe fresh

Shoes- Aldo

This is one of those outfits that I literally threw together in a matter of minutes. I wanted something shiny, and I wanted to wear a dress...and this outfit is the results of those desires!